All Maricopa County supervisors retain seats

Voters returned all five Maricopa County Supervisors to office Tuesday, with all of the Republicans easily overcoming their Democratic opponents.

In the only seriously contested race, Fulton Brock of the East Valley's District 1 crushed 24-year-old Ed Hermes.

Voters also decisively returned Don Stapley of District 2 in the northeast Valley; Andy Kunasek of Phoenix's District 3; and Max Wilson of the West Valley's District 4. The lone Democrat on the board, Mary Rose Wilcox of District 5 in the Southwest Valley, ran unopposed.

Republican Don Covey will take over as the county's schools superintendent, replacing Sandra Dowling.

The county faces severe revenue declines, which could lead to layoffs, even as the board pushes ahead on a $360 million criminal-court tower project in Phoenix.